There's Something About Her, A Manhattan Love Story (2 page)

She only wants me in the office at six so I can “update” her on how to run the eight a.m. meeting. I did all the research and made the calls to rebuild some bridges she burned so that we could get the right people on board for the project. I’m the one with the strategic ideas that she steals. It never fails.
 

I already know that tomorrow, when the meeting starts, she won’t allow me in the room, but she’ll have a speakerphone with a call button to my desk. During the meeting, she’ll ring me and ask me to clarify this or that. I never fail her.
 

I love the universe of marketing. There’s nothing better than building brands, getting the word out about a product, and convincing the world that they need it.

“Belmont Jaxson Lord will now declare his vows,” Reverend Collins says.
 

I open my ears, ready to listen.
 

“Daisy…” Jack’s whisper is filled with emotion. “I still can’t believe you said yes.”

Mandy grunts and shifts in her seat. “I can.”

“And I still can’t believe God led a schmuck like me to a beautiful, sexy, smart, and loving woman like you.”

Daisy cradles his cheek. “You’re not a schmuck.”

“He’s a schmuck,” Charlie proclaims under his breath just as Jack kisses her again.

A group of guys in the crowd groan teasingly. Jack lifts an arm and flips them the bird. They laugh, and the kiss comes to a conclusion.
 

Collins clears his throat. His skin has turned patchy red. I think he’s embarrassed by that kiss.
 

“And Daisy has vows to declare to Belmont,” he says.

Jack lifts a hand. “I’m not finished.” He tucks a lock of her curly hair behind her ear. “Daisy, you know how I feel about you.”

Daisy nods. “I do.”
 

Jack wipes tears from her cheeks. “You and I are in this forever. I know that scares the hell out of you, but I’m going to make you happy. I’m the one person in this world you can always rely on. I’m going to give you everything I have and more. I love you, baby. From the first time I saw you walk off that boat and into my life, I knew we’d be right here doing this.”

Daisy puts her lips on his, and the kissing commences again. Collins can’t interrupt them so quickly this time. Jack earned that one after what he said, and knowing him, he meant every word.

“Okay,” Collins says to reclaim their attention. His leathery neck has turned all the way red.
 

I happen to glance at Charlie, and he’s glaring at them. It’s sad actually. Wanting what Jack has is a pattern he needs to break.
 

A man seated farther down the row stares in our direction. We lock eyes for a moment, and I turn away. I’m pretty sure I caught him gawking at the actress sitting next to me. Men don’t look at me like that.
 

I’m not bad looking. I’ve been told that I’m United Colors of Benetton meets Ralph Lauren, especially with the wavy bangs I just had cut two months ago. My hair has a permanent wave that always makes me look as if I just woke up. I’m not big on wearing a lot of makeup because my skin is already pale; makeup makes me look extra white. I’m naturally blond, so my eyebrows are fair. My friend Hannah, who’s a stylist, took me to get them tattooed a darker shade of brown. That one cosmetic enhancement did miracles for my face.
 

I rarely blush red. My mom hated that because sometimes a change in coloring is the only way to tell what a person is thinking and I have a stellar poker face. Like right now. I feel awkward watching my favorite cousin stroking his minutes-to-be wife’s back like that. Every woman I know wants to get down and dirty with Jack, but I could never picture him doing the big
it
until this very moment.
 

I look at my interlaced fingers on my lap until Daisy says, “My turn.”

Jack plants one last kiss on her forehead. This is certainly not a traditional ceremony. They’ve broken all the rules. She doesn’t have bridesmaids or a matron of honor. Jack doesn’t have a best man. There isn’t a flower girl or ring bearer. Basically, there’s no pomp or circumstance. It’s just the two of them and their love and a shitload of lust.
 

“Go for it, baby,” Jack smirks.

“I love you, Belmont Jaxson Lord, and I can’t wait to take your name. Of course, I have to change all of my business cards, credit cards, checks, et cetera.” She chuckles, and so does everyone else. “But you are so worth the effort, and you’ve proved it every day since we met.” They smile at each other. Then Daisy’s expression turns serious. “Belmont, I’m so happy right now. And I’m…” She closes her eyes to sigh deeply. “So glad you didn’t let me get away from you.”

Jack winks. “Me too, baby.”

“You’re everything I didn’t know I needed and more than I ever expected. Belmont Jaxson Lord, I love you.”

At first Jack gazes at her with his mouth parted like he’s stuck in a daze. Then he turns to Reverend Collins. “You need to pronounce us man and wife right the hell now.” He goes back to staring into Daisy’s eyes.

Collins starts with the “power invested in me” spiel. “I now pronounce you man and wife. Go for it, Jack.” Reverend Weasel smiles for the first time, and the entire floor explodes with laughter.

I’m trying to figure this out. Is that permissible? Can people kiss like that at a wedding? They’re going for it. She’s running her fingers through his hair, and he’s squeezing her ass. Just when we think they’re going to end it and face the crowd, they start up again. People stand up to applaud. Mandy steps on my foot as she storms out.
 

“Ouch!” I reach down to massage my toe.
 

Charlie hasn’t budged. He’s still slumped in his seat and staring daggers at the new Mr. and Mrs. Lord. Feeling my eyes on him, he turns to me and shrugs. He stands and walks out of the ballroom.
 

Daisy and Jack are too happy to notice. They finally stop kissing and face their guests. Jack scoops her up into his arms. The lights along the aisle click off as he carries her out of the room to the sound of continual applause.
 

Chapter 2

It’s Who You Know

The ceremony didn’t take long, which is good. I have to run fifteen blocks home to change into a naughty hooker costume and hightail it to Monroe’s book signing.
 

Wedding guests were asked to not loiter because the sooner they get to the cruise ship, the sooner the festivities start. Mostly everyone is moving to the twelve elevators. White limousines are parked in front of the building, waiting to whisk them off to the harbor.

Jack
would
give a damn if I left without wishing him and Daisy well, so I stand against the wall outside of the ballroom, waiting my turn. Daisy hugs her mother, Heloise Krantz. She’s a Hollywood producer. Daisy promised Monroe a meeting with her mom the next time she’s in L.A., but the offer came with a warning. Her mother is no-nonsense and brutally honest. Monroe shrugged one shoulder and said, “So am I.”
 

I have the feeling I’m being watched. It’s coming from my right.
 

“So, who are you again?” comes from my left. Mandy Hill makes herself comfortable beside me.
 

“I’m nobody at all,” I say.
 

“Did you come with Charlie Lord?” she presses.

“Ha,” I scoff. “He wishes. Do you know he’s got every disease in the book, including the cooties?”
 

She’s reading my expression. I struggle to keep a straight face. I must look away, or I’ll break. I turn my face and see the same guy who was gawking at Mandy during the ceremony staring at us. His eyebrows are ruffled as if he’s trying to figure something out. She probably looks familiar to him. As far as I can tell, he’s handsome. Maybe she could stop obsessing over my married cousin long enough to notice that tall drink of water—maybe not.

“Is cooties a real disease?” she asks.

Jack watches me from across the room. He’s smiling. That’s my cue.
 

“It is. It’s slang for cock-o-lock-us-hydrolyze-membrane infection. You should look it up. And if you’ve engaged in sexual intercourse with Charlie Lord, then you probably have it.” I leave her to obsess over that. Boy, was that fun.

“Mags,” Jack sings and grabs me, giving me a monster hug.

I thumb over my shoulder at Mandy. “Why in the hell did you invite her?” I hug Daisy.

Jack glances at Monroe, and I’m sure that made her day. “We didn’t. She must’ve used her name to get in the door. But what about you, Mags? Have you changed your mind? Are you catching the boat?”

I feel the sides of my mouth pull down. “I still can’t. But I really loved the ceremony. You are a beautiful bride, Dais.”

Daisy sighs tiredly. “Then I lived up to expectations.” She kisses my cheek. “Talk to you soon.” She pecks Jack on the lips. “I have to get off my feet.”

“Don’t move, Mags,” Jack says. He escorts his new wife to the elevator, telling guests he’ll talk to them on the boat as he goes. Everybody wants a piece of Jack.
 

When he gets back, he asks, “So who’s this person you work for anyway?”
 

“She’s just some lady. My girlfriends and I call her Cruella La Bitch.”
 

“I don’t like this. What’s her real name?”

I narrow one eye. “Why? What are you going to do? I can’t have you rocking the boat. Cruella La Bitch knows a lot of people.”

Jack throws his hands up. “Are you
trying
to insult me?”
 

“No, but it’s my career.”
 

“Her name?” he insists.
 

“Patty Welch.”

“Welch… Don’t recognize it. You know what that means?”

I grimace. “No, what?”

“She’s nobody. What’s the name of the company?”

He said that with such impudence that I happily say, “Make It Work, Inc.”

He snaps his fingers. “Stan Richfield.”

“He’s the president.”

“What do you do for this company?”

I drop my face in shame. “I’m a marketing associate, which is nothing but a glorified assistant.”

“But you graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University with a MBA in marketing. You interned at ABC and Alpha Media Group. And I spoke to Valerie Beacon. She said your work was fucking amazing. She wanted to make you a manager but you turned her down. I thought you did it because you had a better offer.”
 

“Valerie referred me to Make It Work. Neither one of us would’ve guessed I would end up as Cruella La Bitch’s lackey.” I feel so stupid for giving up a slice of heaven in exchange for hell on earth.

He shakes his head. “This is my fault. I dropped the ball. But I’m going to fix it. Give me an idea of what Patty Welch does on a daily basis—besides make it hard on you.”
 

Jack has worked himself up into a frenzy. I sigh. I didn’t mean to get into this with him on his wedding day. I should’ve never said anything to him. He thinks of me as his younger sister. Charlie does too, even though we’re the same age.
 

When we were children, their mom, Aunt Carlotta, used to fly out to the city to visit my mom for two weeks every spring. Jack would take Charlie and me to Coney Island almost every day. He wiped out all the money he’d saved from his allowance paying for our rides, funnel cakes, and sideshow attractions.
 

Once I was riding too fast on my bike and fell off. I skinned my knee and twisted my ankle. Jack nursed me back to health by making me all the vanilla ice cream and cola floats I could eat. When I threw it all up, he gave me plenty of water and apples, blueberries, and oranges. He had taken a trip to the library to do some research and learned those were anti-inflammatory fruits, which was what I needed to get better and back on my bike again.
 

When I was an undergrad, Jack had called me once a week to see if I needed anything. Then when he learned I was accepted into the MBA program at Columbia, he called every executive he knew to help me land two coveted internships. After graduation, I was offered jobs by both companies, but I wanted to work for a newer, up-and-coming company. I had no idea I would end up working for a viper.

Jack’s still waiting for my response, and everybody’s eyeing him, waiting for an opportunity to make contact. Daisy is the lucky bride, but they all want to shake his hand and slap a business card in it while they’re at it.
 

“She handles the marketing for new product development,” I say.

“What kind of products?” he asks.

“Mostly apps for cell phones.”

“She’s in charge of consumer contact then?”

“Precisely,” I say.

“Could you do her job?”

“With my eyes closed.”

“That’s all I need to know.” Jack kisses me on the cheek.

I grab his arm to stop him before he steps away. “Hey, what are you going to do?”
 

“Don’t worry. She can’t do a damn thing to you. I have some ideas. Just wait for my call.” He lifts his eyebrows. “You sure you don’t want to come to the reception? It’s going to be a lot of fun. It won’t be complete if you’re not there.”

Five years ago, I would’ve mauled him with a big hug and hopped on the party train, free at last, knowing Jack would fix everything. However, I want to be sensible and not rock the boat until I know for sure that I can jump off of it.
 

“I wish I could, but I want to be responsible,” I say.

“All right, but if you change your mind, call me. I’ll have my phone on my hip,” he says.

We ride down the elevator together. That guy who stared at Mandy all evening rides with us. Since she’s not with us, he watches me, but I’m sure he’s not interested in
moi
. His face is familiar, but I’m unable to place it. Maybe I’ve seen him somewhere. In this city, if I pay attention, I’ll see the same face at least once or twice a week. I decide to avoid eye contact with Mr. Gorgeous. In the lobby, I give Daisy and Jack one last hug and race home as fast as I can.